Hi guys, hope you're all well. I haven't posted in so long. I remember I was here and in the fertility group daily throughout IVF, pregnancy and the first couple of months post partum. It was such invaluable support. Anyway, fast forward a few months and it's Alex's birthday in 2 days. Don't need to tell you what a crazy whirlwind it's been but overall incredibly happy. Alex is in high percentiles for weight and height, he sleeps and eats well and is a happy little boy. I had no concerns until I got the 12 month review questionnaire and now I've been freaking out for a few days.
So my question is: can you remember when your little ones started pointing, clapping and waving? Alex isn't doing any of them. I hadn't been concerned before as he's engaged, wants my attention, good eye contact, very reactive, cuddly, babbles and bangs things together, shuffles book pages, turns them the right way up, looks to me for my reaction to things, mimics my faces and sounds, is happily cruising (through crawled a bit late at 10 months and cruised at 11). It's this f*cking review that holds those 3 things as key milestones and absence of which as markers for autism. Now I'm thinking he does flap his arms a fair bit when he's excited or wants attention.
Now please, I don't want to be insensitive about children with autism. This is not the intention at all. Whatever happens my feelings would not change in the SLIGHTEST but truth be told, if I could choose, I'd rather he followed a typical development track.
So did anyone do these things after 12 months with no issues in the future?
Thanks so much in advance
(And sending a lot of love to the old crew who I shared so much with starting a couple of years ago) ❤️
My 7 month old baby won't eat solids 
6 month old waking up all night and grumpy during day
Does my 6 month old have a normal appetite?
He sounds great, neither of mine ticked every box at their reviews. My kids still don't point that much or clap. I know from my experience with my first I was panicky about the 12 month review, she spent a lot of her first year in lockdown and I wasn't confident that she was doing well. The health visitor wasn't concerned at all, and flew through the forms. She's now 3 and doing well and can very nearly spell her name. It's really a very quick check up and my main take away was that I could stop breastfeeding if I walked to and give cows milk, which just annoyed me more than anything as I wanted a bit of praise for getting to a year!
Second child, I nearly didn't even bother doing the review, it was pointless and I was happy with her progress. It was over in about 5 minutes.
I don't think unless they're really showing huge delays they do anything, it's just another box ticking exercise.
I think you're little boy sounds super engaging and smart xx
Hey Seb, good to hear from you, glad both kids are doing well ❤️
Oh I don't care about HVs or feeling judged or not passing a test or anything. Really could not care less. Especially since they came ONCE at 5 days and I NEVER heard from them again, despite many calls and messages until I gave up.
I just worry about Alex's neurological development and if there is something extra I should be doing. I look like a frikkin clown clapping hands and waving non stop 🤦♀️😆
Ps You are a hero for bf for a year. I lasted 24 hrs. 😢
He sounds like he's doing amazing at all his other things, all kids are so different, my friends little boy walked at 9 months and my daughter was more like 13 months. It feels like it's all swings and roundabouts though.
My daughter potty trained by 2, her son at nearly 4 still hasn't completely cracked it. . Her son will eat whatever put in front of him, my daughter lives on thin air. Mine will go on her own down the biggest slides at soft play and he won't even go to the top floor by himself.
Sometimes it feels like they're ahead and sometimes they're a bit slower and half the time we have very little influence on them other than doing our best 😊